Tag Archives: Child custody
Does Domestic Violence Affect a Divorce Settlement in Florida?
TL;DR Domestic violence can impact child custody, alimony, and even property division during a Florida divorce. Judges prioritize the child’s safety—evidence or convictions of DV often lead to sole custody for the non-abusive parent. DV may influence alimony if abuse affects a spouse’s health, income, or ability to work. Property division remains equitable, but… Read More »
Back To School Tips For Parents With Summer Child Custody Schedules
TL;DR • Communicate early and clearly with the other parent to plan exchanges and avoid last-minute surprises. • Coordinate on bedtime routines, school supplies, uniforms, and back-to-school events to keep consistency for the child. • For long-distance custody, book travel well in advance to save costs and ensure smooth transitions. • Encourage both parents… Read More »
Facing Divorce With An Autistic Child or Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Florida
TL;DR Best interests rule: courts prioritize consistent therapies, school supports, and medical advice for ASD. Evidence that matters: diagnosis documents, provider notes, and a clear history of attending appointments. Get involved now: show up for therapy, IEP or school meetings, and medical visits to strengthen both care and your case. Handle meltdowns calmly: use… Read More »
Should I Use A Guardian Ad Litem In My Florida Divorce?
TL;DR A guardian ad litem can help when parents sharply disagree about custody choices like schooling, childcare, discipline, or schedules. In Florida the guardian ad litem is a trained volunteer who represents the child’s best interests, similar in spirit to the child having an advocate. The same volunteer usually stays on the case unless… Read More »
Advice to Give To A Friend Going Through Divorce
TL;DR Encourage your friend to consider marriage counseling if both spouses are willing to save the marriage. Advise them to speak with a divorce attorney early to avoid complications and understand the legal process. Suggest they know where their money is and be aware of joint accounts to avoid financial surprises. Remind them to… Read More »
How Do Hurricanes Impact Florida Parenting Plans and Custody Agreements?
TL;DR Safety first: if a hurricane makes exchange unsafe, shelter or evacuate—parenting plans prioritize the child’s best interests. Check your plan for “act of God” provisions (hurricanes, severe weather) and follow required notice/communication steps. If communication breaks down, involve your attorney to document decisions and serve as an intermediary. If your plan lacks disaster… Read More »
Use of The Psychological Evaluation In Divorce
TL;DR Psychological evaluations in divorce are often used in custody disputes to assess a parent’s mental health. Attorneys must request a court order for the evaluation, which outlines costs, evaluator choice, and timelines. Lawyers may try to agree on terms before seeking a judge’s decision. False or exaggerated claims can backfire if evaluations favor… Read More »
The Strategy Guide to Florida Divorces Involving Child Custody
Any time a married couple who has children under the age of 18 decides to get divorced they will need to address child custody issues in their case. These are situations that involve a great deal of knowledge of the law and should only be finalized with the assistance of a skilled Orlando divorce… Read More »
The Complete Guide To Filing For Divorce In Florida
My name is Sean Smallwood, and I am an Orlando divorce attorney who has been practicing family and marital law for about a decade. I understand that whether you are a newer attorney or someone who intends to represent themselves in a divorce matter the information in this guide will assist you in the… Read More »
The Three Most Common Mistakes Made in Divorce Separations
One of the most difficult parts of the divorce process in Florida is the actual separation. The process of transitioning from a single-family unit with one set of bills, bank accounts, and routines to separate households can be downright traumatic. What can make matters even worse is when the parties to the divorce were living… Read More »
Should I Get Divorced?
In this video, I’m going to speak for a few moments regarding a serious topic that very few, if any, divorce attorneys are actually taking the time to discuss with their clients. That is whether or not the person sitting in their office is sure that they should even be getting divorced in… Read More »
How to Deal With Parental Alienation in Divorce
If You Are Faced With Parental Alienation, Here is What You Need to Know One very common and very sad fact about the dissolution of marriage process that divorce attorneys in Orlando Florida are forced to deal with is when a divorce involves conduct by one of the parents that amount to parental alienation…. Read More »
Uncontested Divorce in Florida: When Is It the Right Option?
When you hear the word “divorce,” what do you imagine in your head? Is it two soon-to-be-former spouses yelling at each other in court, their children crying, and indifferent judges banging the gavel against a wooden table? Well, it does not have to be this way. More often than not, divorces in Orlando and… Read More »
Baby Prenups in Florida: What is it and Do You Need One?
An increasing number of parents-to-be in Florida are signing the so-called “baby prenups,” but many expectant parents are unfamiliar with the phenomenon of signing parenting contracts. Many expectant parents praise the idea of signing “baby prenups,” while others consider it a bad idea. After all, these parenting contracts remind couples that their marriage may… Read More »
The Allegations in the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings and How Divorce Attorneys See Them Every Day On the Job
The Similarities Between the Kavanaugh Confirmation Process and What Divorce Attorneys and Judges Do is Striking Recently, all the news channels and headlines in the United States have been filled with status updates and debates about the confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States. As I listened to… Read More »
Social Media In Divorce And Child Custody Cases
These days social media is everywhere, but, it has serious rules attached in divorce and custody litigation One area of evidence and trial presentation that has become extremely popular right now for divorce attorneys is whether or not social media posts, updates, and messages are admissible in divorce court and what responsibilities lawyers and their… Read More »
Paternity, Child Custody, and Different Types of Child Support; A Tangled Web
Paternity Cases Usually Come With Their Own Set of Problems Aside From Just Child Custody Issues One of the most common types of child custody cases seen by parents, judges, and attorneys these days is the situation where an unmarried couple has a child, splits up, and one of the parents refuses the other… Read More »
Child Custody Cases and False Domestic Violence Injunctions
Very Often A Parent Will Allege Domestic Violence In A Custody Case Which Leaves Judges And Lawyers To Figure Whether Violence Took Place Or If It Is An Attempt To Gain Advantage In Litigation Throughout the litigation process in family law cases it is quite common to see a party file what is known… Read More »
Grandparent’s Rights Bill Gains Speed: Orlando Child Custody Attorney
Florida Child Custody Attorneys May Soon Add Grandparents Rights To Their List Of Services: Grandparent’s rights is an area of Florida child custody law that has historically been very limited. Currently, one of the only ways a grandparent can be granted court ordered time-sharing with a child is in a dependency court which is… Read More »
Orlando Child Visitation Attorney Information
Orlando Child Visitation Attorney Talks About Custody in Florida Every custody court in Florida will examine a visitation case first and foremost in terms of what is the best interests of the child involved. Often parties and attorneys get confused about the best interests of the child versus the best interests of the parent…. Read More »